26 Tex. Admin. Code § 511.141 - Fire Prevention and Protection
(a) Fire
inspections.
(1) Annual inspection. A limited
services rural hospital (LSRH) shall obtain approval of the fire protection of
the LSRH by an individual certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection
as a prerequisite for licensure.
(2) Hazardous or dangerous conditions or
materials. Whenever any of the officers, members, or inspectors of the Texas
Commission on Fire Protection find in any building or upon any premises
dangerous or hazardous conditions or materials, removal or remedy of dangerous
conditions or materials shall be carried out in a manner specified by the head
of the local fire department.
(3)
Access for inspection. At all reasonable hours, the LSRH shall allow the chief
of the fire department, the chief of the bureau of fire prevention, or any of
the fire inspectors to enter any LSRH building or premises for the purpose of
making an inspection or investigation that may be deemed necessary under the
provisions of these rules.
(b) Fire reporting. All occurrences of fire
shall be reported, in writing, to the Texas Health and Human Services
Commission (HHSC) as soon as possible but not later than 10 calendar days after
the occurrence.
(c) Fire
protection. Fire protection shall be provided in accordance with the
requirements of National Fire Protection Association 101, Life Safety Code,
2012 edition (NFPA 101), §18.7, §
511.161(a)(1) of
this chapter (relating to Requirements for Buildings in Which Existing Licensed
Hospitals are Located), and §
511.162(a)(1) and
(d) of this chapter (relating to General
Construction Requirements). Sprinkler systems for exterior fire exposures shall
comply with NFPA 80A, Recommended Practice for Protection of Buildings from
Exterior Fire Exposures, 2001 edition.
(d) Smoking rules. Each LSRH shall adopt,
implement, and enforce a smoking policy. The policy shall include the minimal
provisions of NFPA 101 §18.7.4.
(e) Fire extinguishing systems. An LSRH shall
conduct inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire-fighting equipment.
(1) Water-based fire protection systems. All
fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, fire standpipe and hose systems, water
storage tanks and valves, and fire department connections shall be inspected,
tested, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection,
Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, 2011
edition.
(2) Range hood
extinguishers. Fire extinguishing systems for commercial cooking equipment,
such as at range hoods, shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with
NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Cooking
Operations, 2011 edition.
(3)
Portable fire extinguishers. Every portable fire extinguisher located in an
LSRH or on LSRH property shall be installed, tagged, and maintained in
accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, 2010
edition.
(f) Fire
protection and evacuation plan. A plan for the protection of patients in the
event of fire and their evacuation from the building when necessary shall be
formulated according to NFPA 101, §18.7. Copies of the plan shall be
available to all staff.
(1) Posting
requirements. An evacuation floor plan shall be prominently and conspicuously
posted for display throughout the LSRH in public areas that are readily visible
to patients, residents, employees, and visitors.
(2) Annual training. The LSRH shall conduct
an annual training program for instruction of all personnel in the LSRH
location and use of fire-fighting equipment. All employees shall be instructed
regarding their duties under the fire protection and evacuation plan.
(g) Fire drills. An LSRH shall
conduct at least 12 fire drills each year, one fire drill per shift per
quarter, which shall include communication of alarms, simulation of evacuation
of patients and other occupants, and use of fire-fighting equipment.
(h) Fire alarm system. Every LSRH and
building used for patient care shall have an approved fire alarm system. Each
fire alarm system shall be installed and tested in accordance with §
511.161(a)(1)(A)
of this chapter for existing hospitals, and §
511.162(d)(5)(N)
of this chapter for new construction.
(i) System for communicating an alarm of
fire. A reliable communication system shall be provided as a means of reporting
a fire to the fire department. This is in addition to the automatic alarm
transmission to the fire department required by NFPA 101,
§18.3.4.3.2.
(j) Fire
department access. As an aid to fire department services, an LSRH shall provide
the following.
(1) Driveways. The LSRH shall
maintain driveways, free from all obstructions, to main buildings for fire
department apparatus use.
(2)
Submission of plans. Upon request, the LSRH shall submit a copy of the floor
plans of the building to the local fire department officials.
(3) Outside identification. The LSRH shall
place proper identification on the outside of the main building showing the
locations of siamese connections and standpipes as required by the local fire
department services.
(k)
Fire department protection. When an LSRH is located outside of the service area
or range of the public fire protection, arrangements shall be made to have the
nearest fire department respond in case of a fire.
Notes
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